The Naga Hoho has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "demonstrate statesmanship and will in the political leadership to personally monitor the Naga peace talk which is the only way forward to resolve the issue".
In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister on Wednesday, the Naga Hoho, while "warmly greeting" the Prime Minister and congratulating him for his "strong leadership influence in India and abroad", prayed that, under the "dynamic leadership" of Narendra Modi, India will grow and progress, resolving all the protracted issues including the Naga political issue.
The Naga Hoho also wished the Prime Minister for his consideration in order to bring about a permanent and early solution to the Naga political issue. The Naga Hoho also wanted the Prime Minister to remember how the peace process was initiated by the Government of India in 1997 with three conditions that, the talks should be unconditional; that the talks shall be at the highest level i.e. the Prime Ministerial level and that, the venue of the talk shall be outside India (in the third country).
The Naga Hoho memorandum then stated, "While addressing the core issue on Naga political process, India as one of the strong contenders in global leadership with sensitivity to geo political dynamics in the region, will creatively and realistically formulate a mutually agreeable proposal to resolving the protracted political conflict". It added, "As the nature of the case requires and demands a political solution, the Prime Minister must demonstrate statesmanship and will in the political leadership to personally monitor the talk which is the only way forward to resolve the issue, and in order to create a favourable environment for constructive engagement, the Government of India must repeal the infamous AFSPA of 1958 from all the Naga inhabited areas".
Today, according to the Naga Hoho memorandum to the Prime Minister, the Naga people, "as you must have observed", have become very restive with the way peace talk has been conducted. The Naga body further said that the signing of the "historic Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN on August 3, 2015 under your guidance and leadership brought about great joy and hope to the Naga people". Now, seven years have gone since the signing of the agreement but instead of resolving the issue, the negotiation has run into brinkmanship, it also stated. "We anticipated the solution which could have arrived early had the Government of India translated the Framework into practical reality. The Naga people are now polarised between the two agreements---the Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017. It is tragic that the long cherished dream of the Naga people to solve the Naga political issue, which was then so close, is now apparently a distant dream," the Naga Hoho memorandum added.
The Naga Hoho then said that the "delicate nature" of the Naga political issue requires introspection of how the past agreements of 9 Points Agreement in 1947, 16 Points Agreement of 1960 with the Naga People Convention and the infamous Shillong Accord of 1975 failed to bring about lasting peace between the Government of India and the Nagas. "Employing the same method to resolve the Naga issue will only breed more suspicion than understanding between the two parties," it also stated.
The memorandum then said that India under several Prime Ministers of India---PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, HD Deve Gowda, IK Gujral and Dr. Manmohan Singh---has taken keen interest in resolving the Naga Political issue which is still continuing. "We are confident that under your strong leadership, Naga political issues will find an honourable solution which is acceptable to both the parties and bring about enduring peace in this strategic geographical location which is considered as a gateway to the South East Asian countries," it added.
The memorandum also mentioned that the desire of Naga Hoho is to bring durable peace between India and the Nagas in the spirit of peaceful co-existence as agreed in the Framework Agreement.
"We dearly remember your endearing statement when you said, 'Come! Let us together build a new, resurgent, stronger and more prosperous India and Nagaland' in your visit to Kohima during Hornbill Festival seven years ago. Naga people yearn for permanent peace with India during your time and partner together towards progress and prosperity of the two people," the Naga Hoho memoram stated.
Lastly, the Naga Hoho memorandum said, "Let us remind each other that Naga people will be truthful and committed towards making Nagaland a strong regional ally of India".
